My Driving Adventure
I have been doing my best to adapt to the daily VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity) that I face when living in a new country. Driving is another big change. Driving in Brazil is quite different from the US. I saw some pretty weird stuff driving in Houston and New York City metro area during my long commutes but nothing quite prepared me for driving in Salvador. Fasten your seatbelt this adventure is about to kick into high gear!
Last weekend, I needed to pick up a few things and Roberto wasn’t in the mood to go out. So, even though I don’t have the best sense of direction and don’t know what most of the signs say, I decided to venture out in our little blue SUV.
I hopped on the highway (the Parallela) and looked for my exit and the retorno (the U-turn to head the other direction – or if you are from New Jersey, the jughandle). I missed it and kept heading further north towards the airport.
Road signs are a bit mysterious in Brazil, even if you are fluent in Portuguese. When it comes to deciphering road signs, be prepared to exercise your imagination. In Salvador, the signs are often hard to see, and some are even pointed in the wrong direction. Also, the name of the road in your GPS app will not match what the sign says.
Some signs seem to have undergone secret transformations. Is that a stop sign or a suggestion to take a quick break? Is the speed limit a friendly recommendation or a dare? Your guess is as good as mine! I just decided to embrace the spirit of adventure and hoped that I would eventually find my way to the store I was seeking without wrecking the car.
Somehow, I was able to get myself turned around heading south but because the road sign didn’t match the name my GPS was telling me, I didn’t end up back on the highway going the other way. Instead, I found my way into a residential area where I was dodging cars, motorcycles, people, and the occasional dog. Siri was no help to me, so I kept driving for about half an hour and somehow ended up near the ocean again in the neighborhood where my in-laws live. I have no idea how I got all the way to Pituba, but I was there, and I recognized it. From there, I found my way back to the Parallela – this time, going in the right direction.
Because I was in the heart of the city, I had to confront motorcycles zooming around me from every direction. Rules? What Rules? In Brazil, traffic rules seem to be more like friendly suggestions. Red lights? Sure, you can treat them as recommendations. Lane discipline? Nah, just follow the path of least resistance. Apparently, there is no problem if you want to drive in the middle of two lanes. Everybody else is doing it. As for using turn signals, well, they are only needed if you want to reveal your next move to the enemy—oops, I mean other drivers.
The other thing that was quite distracting was the horn orchestra. If you thought honking was an occasional form of communication, you're in for a symphony of beeps in Brazil. Here, drivers celebrate every little driving accomplishment with a mighty honk. From starting the engine to simply breathing, you'll hear horns serenading you from all angles. It's like living in a musical, but instead of singing, they're honking their hearts out!
Then, you have to add in all the people multi-tasking while driving and swerving between lanes as they do it since lanes are only a suggestion.
With all of this going on, it was a miracle that I found the store and was able to pick up the things I needed. Plus, I made it back home without wrecking the car.
So, there you have it! Driving in Brazil is like entering a parallel universe where honks are the language, road signs are a riddle, and multitasking is an art form. It's a wild ride that will test your reflexes, your sense of humor, and your ability to improvise.
Whether you're a cautious driver or a daredevil, experiencing the roads in Brazil is a unique adventure. So, buckle up, embrace the chaos, and get ready to navigate through the laughter, confusion, and occasional heart-pounding moments. Because when it comes to driving in Brazil, expect the unexpected, and remember to enjoy the ride!